Bullpen Report: April 13, 2022

The 2022 version of Bullpen Report includes five different sections, as well as the closer chart, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

1. Notable Workloads: Primary closers or valuable members of a closer committee who have been deemed unavailable or likely unavailable for the current day due to recent workload.
2. Injury News 
3. Outlier Saves: Explanation for a non-closer earning a save during the previous day.
4. Committee Clarity: Notes on a closer committee that clarify a pitcher’s standing in the group.
5. Losing A Grip: Struggling closers who could be on the hot seat.

The “RosterResource” link will take you to the corresponding team’s RosterResource depth chart, which will give you a better picture of the full bullpen and results of the previous six days (pitch count, save, hold, win, loss, blown save.)

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.

Notable Workloads

•Mark Melancon, ARI: 22 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Ian Kennedy is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday if Melancon isn’t available.

•Liam Hendriks, CHW: 25 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

This isn’t the type of workload that will normally sideline Hendriks for the next day. If the White Sox decide to be cautious this early in the season, though, Kendall Graveman (11 pitches on Tuesday) is the likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday.

•Edwin Diaz, NYM: 23 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Diaz returned from the Bereavement list with a scoreless ninth and three strikeouts to pick up his 1st save on Tuesday. If the Mets want to rest him on Wednesday, Seth Lugo and Adam Ottavino are likely candidates for a save chance.

 

Injury News

•Lucas Sims, CIN: Began rehab assignment | RosterResource

Sims started for Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday in the first appearance of his rehab assignment. He allowed one run in one inning of work while facing two of the Royals’ best prospects. Nick Pratto (No. 47 overall) struck out, but MJ Melendez (No. 21 overall) homered.

Manager David Bell has mentioned April 20-22 as a potential return window, meaning that he could be in line for 3-4 more appearances before he’s activated. Once he returns, he’ll likely be eased back into the closer’s role.

•Jorge Alcala, MIN: Placed on 10-Day IL (elbow inflammation) | RosterResource

With rookie Jhoan Duran quickly moving up the closer depth chart, Alcala might’ve been his biggest obstacle to becoming the team’s primary closer. The 26-year-old finished strong in 2021, allowing only two runs over his last 20.2 innings while striking out 26 batters and walking only three. But, through two appearances in 2022, his average fastball is down more than 3 MPH from last season (97.4 MPH in ’21; 94.1 MPH in ’22) and now we probably know why. He’s on the 10-Day IL due to elbow inflammation.

Jorge Alcala is going on the 10-day IL with right elbow inflammation. Griffin Jax is up from Triple-A and active today.

Rocco said there’s discomfort in Alcala’s throwing arm that has been some issue since spring. Imaging showed a “slight signal,” Rocco said.

— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) April 12, 2022

 

•Corey Knebel, PHI: Placed on COVID-19 IL. | RosterResource

After being unavailable on Monday due to flu-like symptoms, Knebel was placed on the COVID-19 IL prior to Tuesday’s game. Brad Hand, who picked up a save in Monday’s win, along with Jose Alvarado and Seranthony Dominguez, are likely candidates for save chances while Knebel is out. UPDATE: Knebel was activated from the IL on Wednesday.

 

Outlier Saves

•None

 

Committee Clarity

•Garrett Whitlock, BOS | RosterResource

Whitlock is the rare pitcher who is both a long reliever and part of the closer committee. The 25-year-old right-hander can enter a game as early as the fifth inning and is capable of pitching until the game is over. On Tuesday, he was not in line for a save because the game was tied at three when entered in the bottom of the sixth. But he still picked up a win and closed out a 5-3 victory over the Tigers after pitching four innings without allowing a run or hit.

Obviously, he won’t be available for at least the next day or two after throwing 39 pitches. There’s also the possibility that the Red Sox will just move him into the rotation. But, for now, he’ll be a strong candidate for a multi-inning save chance whenever he is available out of the ‘pen.

•David Robertson, CHC | RosterResource

Robertson got the Cubs’ first save of the season on Opening Day. Now, he has both of their saves after pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over the Pirates. Mychal Givens pitched the eighth as he did prior to Robertson’s first save. Rowan Wick, on the other hand, hasn’t pitched since struggling on Opening Day. There doesn’t appear to be any reports on whether he’s dealing with an injury, so it’s difficult to know where he fits in the bullpen hierarchy. In any case, the 37-year-old Robertson’s hold on the closer’s job appears to be getting stronger.

•Hunter Strickland, CIN | RosterResource

Tony Santillan and Art Warren have each picked up a save in the Reds’ two wins, although the veteran Strickland was expected to be an integral part of the group. But with Warren and Santillan pitching the seventh and eighth innings, respectively, in a 4-4 tie versus the Guardians on Tuesday, it was clear that the Reds were still going to stick with a larger committee that likely included Strickland.

While he didn’t get a save chance, Strickland pitched the ninth with the game tied. It didn’t go well. He retired only one batter while allowing four runs, including a two-run homer to Andres Gimenez, in an eventual 10-5 loss. It’s now unlikely that he’ll get any save chances before Sims returns. I’d expect Santillan and Warren, and maybe lefty Justin Wilson, to form the closer’s committee until Sims can reclaim the job.

•Giovanny Gallegos, STL | RosterResource

It wasn’t a surprise that the Cardinals’ first save chance went to Gallegos, who locked down the 6-5 win over the Royals on Tuesday with a 1-2-3 ninth. But manager Oli Marmol has said that he won’t hesitate to use his best reliever earlier in the game, leaving open the possibility of a closer’s committee. But dating back to the end of last season, Gallegos has 13 saves in his last 18 appearances. He seems very comfortable in the role and no other pitcher in the Cardinals’ bullpen has much of track record in save situations.

With Jordan Hicks expected to pitch out of the rotation for the time being — he pitched out of the bullpen on Tuesday, but will make his first start on Saturday — and Alex Reyes on the 60-Day IL, Marmol will likely have to rely on Genesis Cabrera, Ryan Helsley, or Nick Wittgren in save situations when Gallegos isn’t available.

•Greg Holland, TEX | RosterResource

With Matt Bush (28 pitches on Monday) and Joe Barlow (pitched back-to-back days) likely unavailable on Tuesday, it was a surprise to see Holland, the most likely candidate for a save chance, enter the game in the fifth inning. What that tells us is manager Chris Woodward’s closer committee is wider-ranging than expected and he was going to use someone else if they had the lead in the ninth. While there are no obvious choices, a case could be made for a few of the available options.

Right-handers Albert Abreu, Josh Sborz, and Dennis Santana all throw their fastball in the upper 90’s, while lefties John King and Brett Martin could be used in certain match-ups to close out games. There should be more clarity over the next week or so.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.